Train-order holder and signal



Patented Feb. 2|, I899. A. McKANNA.

TRAINORDER HOLDER AND SIGNAL.

am 7 7 w 6 0 N (Application med. Dec. 18, 1897.)

(No Model.)

lllllli mmnnunn ML s 00., PHDTO-LITHO.. WASHINOT NITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

AMOS MCKANNA, 0F EMPORIA, KANSAS.

TRAIN-ORDER HOLDER AND SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,778, dated February21, 1899.

Application filed December 18, 1897. Serial No. 662,463. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AMOS MoKANNA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Emporia, in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Train-Order Holder and Signal, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to train-order holders and signals, its objectbeing to provide a simple and efficient holder to which the train orderswill be attached and may be taken by the engineer or the conductor whilethe train is moving at great speed, and also to provide a signal andsupport to which the holder will be detachably connected and held insuch manner that the engineer or conductor can take the holder on hisarm in passing, the signal serving to notify him that an order awaitshim.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists of the Severaldetails of construction and combinations of parts, as will behereinafter fully described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a locomotive-engine,showing the engineer taking the train-order holder from thesignaling-support. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the train-orderholder detached. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the signaling-supportfor the holder.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the severalfigures.

1 indicates a ring, which will preferably be about fifteen inches indiameter, although it may be more or less, if desired, the object beingto have a ring through which the arm of the engineer or conductor may bereadily inserted. The ring will be formed from steel or other suitablewire of about one-eighth of an inch in diameter.

2 represents the train-order clasp, formed from a strip of sheet metalfolded upon itself, with one ply somewhat longer than the other. Thefree end of the longer ply is formed into a roll-spring 3, and the freeend of the shorter ply is curved, as indicated at 4, and adapted to bedetachably held in its closed position by the roll-spring, as shown inFig. 2.

5 indicates the train-order, which will be securely held between the twoplies of the clasp. The roll-spring 3 serves also as a sleeve throughwhich the ring extends, and the ring and clasp form what I term thetrain-order holder.

What I term the signaling-support comprises a rod or staff 6, to one endof which a hollow casting 7, which will preferably be in the form of across, is secured. The casting forms a reservoir for oil, gasolene, orother combustible fuel, and will be provided with a filling-aperture inthe usual manner. One of the lateral arms 8 of the casting will beprovided with a burner 9, of any approved construction, and this burnerwill be provided with a screw-cap 10 to prevent leakage when the burneris not being used. On the arm 8 a reflector 11 is supported just in rearof the burner and will serve to reflect the light from the burner.Spring-clips 12 are secured to the staff and reservoir in any approvedmanner and serve to detachably hold the ring 1.

The telegraph-operator or other employee upon receiving an order for atrain will secure it in the clasp on the ring, and if it be for theengineer or conductor of a slowlymoving train the ring may be held inposition by the operator or other employee, so that the engineer orconductor in passing can readily insert his arm through the ring, andthus take it from the operator. The engineer or conductor, as the casemay be, will then detach the train-order from the clasp and throw thering out, so that the operator or other employee can again obtainpossession of the ring and clasp, and this will be an indication thatthe engineer has received the order. Should, however, the order be for arapidlymoving train, the signaling-support will be used and the ringheld by the spring-clips 12, and the operator will grasp the staff andhold it in such position that the engineer or conductor can take thering on his arm in pass ing, the clips 12 being so formed that the ringcan be very easily detached without any danger to either the engineer orthe person holding the support. In the daytime the engilfnje'er orconductor will be able to see the support and train-order holder withoutdifficulty; but in the night-time the burner 9 will be ignited and willthus serve as a Signal to the engineer or conductor that the orderawaits him and will also give sufficient light to enable the engineer orconductor to see the position of the ring, so that he can readily takeit with his arm.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided anexceedingly simple and eflicient device for delivering trainorders toengineers or conductors on moving trains without necessitating thestoppage of the train and that no complicated mechanism is necessary tobe attached to the engine or other part of the train and to a fixedsupport.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and theminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. A device of theclass described comprisinga ring of suflicient diameter for the easypassage of an arm therethrough and provided with means for receiving andholdinga trainorder, and a staff designed to be carried bya person anddetachably supporting the ring, whereby the same may be readily securedby an engineer or a conductor while the train is in motion,substantially as described.

2. A holder for train-orders, adapted to be taken by the engineer orconductor of a moving train, comprising a ring of sufficient diameterfor the easy passage of an arm therethrough, and a clasp formed from astrip of metal folded upon itself, the free end of one ply being formedinto a roll-sprin g with which the free end of the other ply is adaptedto be engaged to clamp the train-order between the plies, saidroll-spring also forming a sleeve through which the ring passes,substantially as described.

3. The combination with a staff provided with spring-clips, of atrain-order holder comprising a ring adapted to be detachably supportedby the clips, and a clasp carried by the ring and in which the order issecured, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a staff carrying a burner at one end and having,spring-clips, of a train-order holder comprising a ring adapted to bedetachably supported by the clips, and a clasp carried by the ring andin which the order is secured, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a staff carrying a burner at one end, and areflector in the rear of the burner, of spring-clips also carried by thestaff, and a train-order holder comprising a ring adapted to bedetachably supported by the clips, and a clasp carried by the ring andin which the order is secured, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a staff, and a hollow casting secured to one endof the staff, said casting forming a reservoir for a combustiblefiuid,of a burner secured in said casting, a reflector carried by thecasting in rear of the burner, spring-clips also carried by the staff,and a train-order holder comprising a ring adapted to be detachablysupported by the clips, and a clasp carried by the ring and in which theorder is secured, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AMOS MOKANNA.

Witnesses:

J. B. MooN, J EMS TUDY.

